Student athletes banned from unionizing
As a wide receiver for Central Michigan University from 2000 to 2003, Steve Messam could have used a few more dollars in his pocket.
Unable to work on or off campus, due to practice schedules and university policy, Messam said some compensation for student athletes is necessary.
"I believe athletes should receive at least a stipend for basic expenses," he said. "Students who are not athletes who get a full academic scholarships have the luxury to still get a job while in school to buy things for themselves, while still enjoying the benefits of their scholarship paying tuition, books and board."
The discussion of athlete pay and employment has ended in Michigan, after a bill was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder, banning college athletes from unionizing or being treated as public employees.
The bill was signed by Snyder, late December 2014.
After being passed by the Michigan Legislature during a “lame duck” session which ended Dec. 19, Snyder signed Public Act 414, previously known as House Bill 6074, into law Tuesday, Dec. 30.
The law, intended to “prohibit strikes by certain public employees,” also requires “certain provisions in collective bargaining agreements.”
It specifically excludes college athletes from being public employees, thus banning them from collective bargaining.
“The bill would ensure that college athletes are students, first and foremost, and should not be treated as employees by their schools,” read a press release from Snyder’s office.
According to the bill, college athletes do not qualify as public employees, or have “sufficient indicia if an employer-employee relationship” based on a 20-factor test instituted by the internal revenue service.
The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Al Pscholka, R-Saginaw.
CMU's athletics department agrees with the law. Director of Athletic Communications Rob Wyman said student athletes are students first, and will not be receiving payment to play.
"The law that was recently passed provides clarity to one of the issues surrounding student-athlete welfare," Wyman said. "We agree with Gov. Snyder that college student-athletes are students, first and foremost, and should not be treated as employees by their schools."
Messam pointed to the benefit athletes bring to their university, and explained from his own experience that having to juggle the responsibilities of a Division One with unemployment can be difficult.
"Not having the opportunity to work to get a little pocket change is tough at times," Messam said.
He said revenue brought in by sports events through non-conference and bowl game play, as well as exposure to recruit other students should be considered when deciding to pay players.
Kaitlin Shanks, a Highland sophomore also pointed to the scholarships and free gear provided to student athletes. Shanks said if athletes were paid, they should receive less benefits.
"I personally don't think that the athletes need to be paid, due to fairly large scholarships they usually get if they're not full ride, the hundreds of dollars worth of free clothing they get per year, plus the free traveling and food they get when they go other places," she said. "If they are going to start being paid, I think they should get less of the free stuff."
In August, a federal court in California ruled, in an anti-trust class action case brought against the National Collegiate Athletics Association, that collegiate athletes could be paid for use of their likeness in "video games, live telecasts and other footage."
